News
Telenor Pakistan’s first employee becomes chief executive as his predecessor moves to Bulgaria.
Telenor on Tuesday announced a change in leadership at two of its international operating companies.
Effective 1 August, Michael Foley will become CEO Of Telenor Bulgaria, replacing the current holder of the role, Stein Erik Vellan, who will become head of corporate support at Telenor Group.
Foley leaves his position as chief executive of Telenor Pakistan in order to return to Bulgaria, where he worked a decade ago.
Irfan Wahab Khan, currently deputy CEO and chief marketing officer at Telenor Pakistan, will step up as its new CEO.
"With these appointments we utilise our executives competence and knowledge across different markets and functions," said Telenor CEO Sigve Brekke.
Brekke noted that the Bulgarian job will be Foley’s second since he joined Telenor in July 2014 to head up the Pakistan business.
In his previous role Foley was chief commercial officer at Canada’s Atlantic Lottery Corporation and, according to Telenor, has 30 years’ experience in sales, marketing and operations in the telecoms and retail sectors in numerous global markets.
His employment history includes a stint as executive director and chief commercial officer of Bulgarian mobile operator M-Tel from March 2004 to July 2005, when the firm was acquired by Telekom Austria.
Foley, who will continue as chairman of Tameer Microfinance Bank in Pakistan – which was bought out by Telenor earlier this year – said he is looking forward to getting to grips with his new position in Bulgaria.
"I am proud of what we as a team have achieved in Pakistan," he added. "Irfan Wahab Khan will do an excellent job at taking the helm and I wish him and the organisation the very best for the future."
Khan has been with Telenor for 12 years and has the distinction of being the telco’s first employee in Pakistan, having joined the company as its head of corporate affairs in 2004.
He has held various positions within the Telenor group in Asia and in Europe over the years, and also serves on the board of Tameer Microfinance Bank.
